The Truth about the Rise in Global Antisemitic Sentiment
By Dr. Susan Michael, ICEJ USA President
This crisis did not happen overnight; it is the culmination of a steady, concerning climb. The definitive turning point for this recent surge in antisemitism was October 7, 2023, when Hamas infiltrated southern Israel, massacring more than 1,200 people and taking over 250 hostages into Gaza. In the wake of Israel’s military response, anti-Israel protests skyrocketed across American college campuses and globally on social media.
Antisemitism is surging around the world. It is at epidemic levels throughout the Middle East where Jew-hatred is entrenched in everyday life. Europe is experiencing pre-Holocaust levels of hostility due to far-right parties and an influx of immigrants from Muslim countries. And the United States is experiencing a deeply terrifying surge on the internet, on college campuses, and within both the far right and progressive political movements.
However, before October 7, signs of trouble were already percolating. A January 2023 study published by The London Centre for the Study of Contemporary Antisemitism—in partnership with the Anti-Defamation League and the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago—revealed the number of Americans harboring extensive antisemitic prejudice has doubled since 2019, reaching the “highest levels in decades.”[1] Interestingly, that report showed a strong correlation between anti-Israel sentiments and antisemitism, with the younger, more progressive generation proving particularly susceptible to the rhetoric.[2]
That hatred has quickly spread across the Atlantic, seen in a November 2025 European Commission survey that revealed that 55 percent of Europeans now view antisemitism as a glaring national problem, with nearly 7 in 10 stating that Middle East conflicts directly skew how Jewish people are perceived in their home countries.[3]
The latest global data shows that the dam has completely broken. A January 2025 survey by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) found that nearly half of the global adult population—46 percent—exhibits elevated levels of antisemitic attitudes. This means about 2.2 billion people harbor deeply entrenched antisemitic beliefs, more than double compared to ADL’s first worldwide survey in 2014. It’s the highest level on record since ADL started tracking these trends globally. Additionally, the survey found that younger respondents worldwide show a greater prevalence of antisemitic attitudes: 40 percent of respondents under age 35 affirm that “Jews are responsible for most of the world’s wars,” while it is 29 percent for those over the age of 50.[4]
Just as alarming is the widespread erasure of history. The 2025 survey also found that 20 percent of the global respondents had never heard of the Holocaust, and less than half (48 percent) recognize the Holocaust’s historical accuracy. Of those who had heard of it, one-third thought it was either a myth or greatly exaggerated. Geographically, the denial is troubling: only 16 percent of the respondents in the Middle East and North Africa and 23 percent in Sub-Saharan Africa recognize the historical accuracy of the Holocaust.[5]
Antisemitism is not just a Jewish problem and, if left unchecked, is a threat to society at large. It is often described as an early-warning system—a canary in the mineshaft—alerting us to hateful movements that can threaten all of us. When Hitler unleashed antisemitism and built the Nazi movement on hatred of Jews, he plunged the world headlong on a path of destruction. Not only were 6 million Jews exterminated, but some 50 million people died in World War II.
Christians have a moral obligation to withstand hatred and violence directed toward any group, including Jews. But our responsibility goes beyond that. Knowing the history of centuries of church-sanctioned antisemitism that paved the way for the Holocaust, we particularly need to stand with the Jewish people in their modern battle against this evil.
The Evangelical Christian demographic in America has the political and moral weight to push back against this evil invasion of our society. We can no longer remain passive or silent; we must learn how to come against its influence vocally, politically, and prayerfully.
The canary in the mineshaft is sounding its call of alarm, and it’s time for the church to act.
Don’t watch from the sidelines … take a stand, and sign the Declaration Against Antisemitism TODAY.
This work also requires tangible support. Through advocacy, education, and partnership, ICEJ USA is actively combating antisemitism and strengthening Christian support for Israel. Those who are able are invited to give generously, helping expand this vital work and ensure that our Jewish neighbors do not stand alone in this battle.
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[1] Anti-Defamation League, “Antisemitic Attitudes in America: Topline Findings,” 12 January 2023.
[2] World Israel News, “Whopping Majority of Americans Believe in Antisemitic Tropes, New Poll Finds,” January 2023.
[3] https://combatantisemitism.org/cam-news/eu-survey-antisemitism-rising-and-holocaust-awareness-lagging-in-europe/
[4] Anti-Defamation League, “46% of Adults Worldwide Hold Significant Antisemitic Beliefs, ADL Poll Finds,” 20 February 2025.
[5] Anti-Defamation League, “46% of Adults,” 20 February 2025.